Macular Degneration

What is Macular Degeneration?

Age-related macular degeneration (ARMD) is an ageing process in the eye. The macula is a part of the retina (a layer of tissue on the back of the eye) which is responsible for central vision.

Layers of the retina can thicken or thin and waste material (which is usually removed by the body naturally) can form deposits, which distort the retina. This distortion can then cause damage to the other layers of the retina.

In some cases new blood vessels can grow into the macula from beneath. These newly formed vessels are fragile, and often leak blood into the retina, where it causes scar tissue to form or haemorrhages. This scarring, blocks out central vision and can cause blindness.

Types of Macular Degeneration:

There are two different types of macular degeneration.

The dry version of macular degeneration.

The wet version of macular degeneration -In the absence of treatment, wet macular degeneration can result in severe central vision loss, which will affect everyday things such as driving, shopping, using the phone and reading. Both near-vision and distance-vision activities can be affected.

A missed form

Preventing macular degeneration:

Certain studies have shown that particular dietary food groups and vitamins can help protect and prevent the macula from effects of aging. These foods can include:

Vegetables that are high in Zeaxanthine and Lutein

Nuts rich in Antioxidants

Oily Fish high in Omega 3 fatty acids

Vitamin A C and E

Patients can monitor their own vision changes with an Amsler Grid. This is a regular grid like graph paper. Patients with changes in their vision due to ARMD may report that sections or lines of the grid are distorted.